Local after-school activity sites get learning center grants

Posted: Mon 3:50 PM, Oct 01, 2012

PRESS RELEASE

Federal funds support after-school activities at 21st Century Community Learning Centers

MADISON — Students at 51 sites around the state are benefiting from afterschool activities that support their learning, funded by just over $4 million in federal 21st Century Community Learning Center (CLC) grants.

“Educational and enrichment activities in 21st Century Community Learning Centers extend the school day, helping students retain more of what they learn,” said State Superintendent Tony Evers in announcing the grants. “While the need for these activities far out-paces funding, the work of these centers makes a difference in students’ lives and supports efforts to prepare them for college and careers.”

Selected through a competitive grant process, the 51 funded sites were among a pool of 113 that requested $9.7 million in grant funds. These sites join the 154 existing 21st Century Community Learning Centers in sharing Wisconsin’s $16 million federal grant. The 21st Century CLC grant program is designed to improve student achievement, attendance, and behaviors by providing enriching activities for youth during out-of-school hours. In addition to academic support, 21st Century Community Learning Centers also provide adult family member activities that promote family engagement in their children’s education as well as adult learning and parental skill building.

According to the 2010-11 school year data, 48,938 students statewide each received about 14 hours of service per week through the CLC grant program. Of those served, 72 percent demonstrated significant improvement in academic achievement in mathematics, reading, or both. In addition, students demonstrated an improved commitment and engagement to school through increased attendance rates and classroom participation, and decreased behavioral problems. Research also shows that well designed after-school programs help reduce youth crime, rates of teen pregnancy, and other risky behaviors.

“The 21st Century Community Learning Center program provides quality services for students and their families and is a bridge between schools and communities,” Evers noted.

During the 2010-11 school year, 972 organizations worked with schools in support of afterschool programs, contributing more than $2.76 million in financial support and services. These partnerships provide valuable resources and opportunities for participants that are often inaccessible under ordinary circumstances.

The 21st Century Community Learning Center program is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Funding in the 2012-13 school year competition was awarded to proposed community learning centers that would serve schools that have at least 40 percent or more of enrolled students qualifying for free or reduced-price school lunches, based on family income. Schools identified for improvement under federal education laws received priority for grant awards. Continued funding for the 21st Century CLC grants is dependent on the federal budget.

21st Century Community Learning Center Grants

New Grants *Arcadia School District Arcadia Elementary School, $100,000 Beloit School District Robinson Elementary School, $100,000 Boys and Girls Club of Barron County Barron High School, $100,000 *Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee Hadfield Elementary School (Waukesha), $100,000 *Brown Deer School District Dean Elementary School, $100,000 *Granton Area School District Granton Area Schools, $100,000 *Hillsboro School District Hillsboro Elementary School, $100,000 Janesville School District Lincoln Elementary School, $100,000 Madison Metropolitan School District Lindbergh Elementary School, $100,000 Allis Elementary School, $100,000 Manitowoc School District Washington Junior High School, $100,000 Merrill Area School District Jefferson Elementary School, $100,000 *Messmer High School, Milwaukee, $100,000 Milwaukee Public Schools Carson Academy, $100,000 Doerfler Elementary School, $100,000 Neenah Joint School District Wilson Elementary School, $100,000 Oshkosh Area School District Emmeline Cook Elementary School, $100,000 Racine Unified School District McKinley Middle School, $100,000 Sheboygan Area School District Central High School, $100,000 *Spooner Area School District Spooner Middle School, $100,000 *Urban Day School, Milwaukee 12th Street Campus, $100,000 *Viroqua Area School District Viroqua Elementary School, $100,000

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